The Moon's Water Lily

Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha.

Chapter 16

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"Kagome?"

Kagome slowly opened her eyes and saw Izayoi looking down at her. She was still in the library where she must have fainted.

"Sorry, I guess I lost track of time and fell asleep. Is Sesshomaru still with his father?"

Izayoi didn't look as if she believed her, but nodded. "Yes, I think they are finishing up now. Are you sure you are feeling alright dear? You look exhausted."

Kagome smiled. "I'm okay, just a little tired is all."

Sesshomaru walked into the library and nodded at his step mother as she left the room. He frowned when he saw Kagome. She looked as if she hadn't slept in days.

"Have you been in here reading this entire time? You should have gone to bed. You do not look well, mate."

"I would have, but I was waiting for you. I need to go out for a while. I know it seems I have excellent control, but even I have my limits. And well, it seems youkai blood smells a million times better than human."

Sesshomaru smirked. "I'm not surprised. However, I will accompany you. It is not safe for you to be out alone right now."

"I will be fine. As long as the originals and youkai are still in talks they will not move against us. They do not want a war if one is avoidable. They would lose many and risk exposure. I really prefer no one see me this way."

"We are mates. There is no reason to be ashamed of what you are in front of me. There is nothing you can hide from me, nor do you have reason to. It does not change anything."

Kagome smiled sadly. "I still wish we had met when I was human. Things could have been different, easier. Let's get going then. It is getting late and soon everyone will be home in bed."

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"Kikyo, are you going to come to bed? It's late and I am tired. And you still haven't completely recovered from creating that ring."

"Inuyasha, there are more important things I need to be doing right now. I want to find a way to help Kagome and Sesshomaru. We both know what is going to happen at that meeting."

"Feh, that's obvious. They are going to want to kill her. Which will kill Sesshomaru. I can't see my father going along with that."

"He won't have a choice. He may be part of the royalty but he is not the only one. They won't risk a war just to save Sesshomaru. I think your father knows this, but is hoping the originals will surprise him. That is very unlikely to happen, so I am going to try to find a way to fix this."

"You can't save everyone, Kikyo."

Kikyo rolled her eyes. "I know that, Inuyasha. I really do. I could not stand to see you if something happens to them. I have to know I tried everything I could. This is for you just as much as it is for them. I know you love your brother, Inuyahsa and I know you still care for Kagome as well."

"Kikyo-"

Kikyo held up her hand to stop him, "You do not need to defend yourself. I know your love for her isn't the same as your love for me. I do. When you love, you love deeply. That never truly goes away. She was your first and I am happy to be your last. Let me do this for you."

Inuyasha nodded. "Can I help?"

Kikyo nodded and handed him an old book. "If you see anything involving vampirism show it to me."

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Kagome took a deep breath. The night was clear and the air was nice. Nothing like Alaska, but this was better. This was her home. She always had and always would belong here.

"I feel eyes on us."

Kagome nodded. "It is one of my kind. Probably someone sent by Meiyo. He would love more things to take to the originals. Ignore them they won't approach us."

Sesshomaru nodded but stayed on alert anyway. Kagome quickly found a couple running along a trail and fed. Being in a house full of youkai was difficult. She had had a tough time with just Sesshomaru. With a house full of them it was even more difficult.

Kagome took Sesshomaru's hand. "Let's hurry back. I have an uneasy feeling."

Sesshomaru nodded and they sped off into the night.

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Kikyo smiled over at a very loudly snoring Inuyasha. He'd made it about three pages in before falling asleep. She sighed as she looked down at all the books in front of her. She knew there had to be something she just didn't know where to find it.

A gust of wind blew through the room and the book Inuyahsa had fell open on the floor. Kikyo picked it up and read the page it was open to. She smiled. This would either solve everything or make things even more complicated. Either way she knew in her heart Kagome would want this.

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"Are you sure I shouldn't come with you? If something happens I can help."

Sesshomaru shook his head. "No, you would only he something they could use against me. And I have plans in place if things go wrong. You need to be here with Izayoi. She will know what to do."

"So you will want to run? I don't know if I can do that again."

Sesshomaru placed his hands on the sides of her face. "I know you do not want it to be that way again. But I will not have the alternative. They would kill you and myself. That is not something I will let happen. And it would be temporary. I would find a way for us."

Kagome smiled. That same sad smile that twisted his insides. She didn't believe there was hope for this to go well. Deep down he didn't think there was either. From what his father said the originals were prideful and not much else. They did not have any other feelings, other than the hate they had for the youkai. That did not bode well for them.

"I love you, Sesshomaru. I would do anything to keep you alive."

Sesshomaru could sense the undertone in that statement but instead just kissed her softly and then left the room. He was so tempted to throw her over his shoulder and just run away from everything. He really hoped things went well, because if it didn't he had a lot of things to figure out.

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"So, this is the one then? The youkai who dares to slander both our races by mating not only a vampire, but a wanted vampire. Tell me, what makes your son so special that he is not being punished by your own laws?"

"My son was not aware of the existence of your kind. Therefor, he is at no fault."

"Then shouldn't you be punished in his place? We have no problems helping decide a suitable punishment for you."

Sesshomaru growled and his father shot him a look.

"This meeting has nothing to do with that. We govern our own people our own way. However, with the inuyoukai, as you know, the death of one mate results in the death of the other. Sesshomaru is a very important part of our society and my heir. If you execute this girl you also execute him. We would like to work out a deal that will benefit both our people."

The originals laughed coldly. Sesshomaru knew this could not end well.

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Kagome paced back and forth in then sitting room. They hadn't been gone very long, but still she was nervous. She had had a bad feeling since Sesshomaru walked out of the door.

Kikyo and Inuyahsa burst into the room. Kikyo was smiling as widely as Kagome had ever seen someone smile.

"Kikyo, Inuyahsa? What are you doing here?"

Kikyo shoved a book in her hands. "This could fix everything."

Kagome read the page, eyes widening. "But Kikyo, that would mean that…"

Inuyasha nodded. "We don't care, Kagome. This is the only way."

Kagome frowned. "Your brother may hate this."

"Then he is an idiot."

"You did something with your bond. What was it?"

Kagome was surprised. She had thought if Sesshomaru could not tell then no one else could. There seemed to be more to Kikyo than even she thought.

"I modified it. What happens to him will still happen to me. If I die anything other than a natural death, it will not harm him. I would not let them kill him for me."

"Well, this will solve that as well. We need to be fast. Before the meeting is over."

Inuyasha smirked. "Well, let's get this done then."

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The originals were talking in their chambers, but Sesshomaru felt there was no need. He already knew what the outcome would be and he knew what he would have to do. His father would not be able to save them.

As the originals stepped back into the room, practically grinning, Kikyo and Inuyasha bust into the room.

"Inuyasha, what are you doing?" Toga began rubbing his temples. Just when he thought things could not get worse, they did.

Inuyasha smirked and Kikyo rolled her eyes. "He enjoys being dramatic, but we actually have a reason for being here."

"Do tell, miko. Remember, our treaty is with the youkai not with you. You are trespassing in our territory."

"Shut up and listen you old blood bag."

Sesshomaru heard a laugh from behind his brother and realized they were not alone. She stepped out from behind them smiling like he had never seen before. She looked the same, but her scent was slightly different and he could hear something he never thought he would, a heartbeat. A real heart beat.

"Kagome, how is this possible?"

Kagome laughed again. "I'm not a vampire anymore. Well, not exactly."'

"What are you then? Human?"

"Even better, I'm a hanyou."